The UK's best coastal campsites

You can't beat a bit of time at the beach when on holiday, but there are so many sites to choose from it can be difficult to know where to pick. We've done the hard work for you by shortlisting our favourite sites by the sea.

Shell Island Campsite, Gwynedd, Wales

Seeking to get back to a more basic form of camping, without all the bells and whistles of modern campsites? Shell Island may be for you. This quirky campsite is cut off from mainland Wales twice a day, and claims to be the largest campsite in Europe. There are no designated pitches here and visitors are invited to select their own spot within the 300 acres. This might be in a sheltered meadow or on an exposed headland with spectacular views – either way, the sea is close by. Shell collectors will find the richest pickings in spring, after winter storms have washed over 200 different types ashore.

shellisland.co.uk

Hollins Farm, Carnforth, Lancashire

Hollins Farm is probably best described as a proper campsite – just pitches, a play area and acres of trees and fields. Yet this campsite also has a five-star, modern, stone-built facilities building and holds the accolade of the AA’s Most Improved Campsite of the Year 2013. This is a quiet, peaceful farm site with animals in the adjoining fields, and stunning countryside views out to the Silverdale coastline. It is a place where you can get away from it all and walk at your lesiure for miles along the coast, enjoying the dramatic views of Morecambe Bay. But when you need extra in the way of facilities you can make full use of the ones at sister park Holgates Silverdale, just a five-minute walk away.

holgates.co.uk/hollins-farm

Whitby Holiday Park, North Yorkshire
 
With a spectacular cliff-top location, Whitby Holiday Park has great views over the sea from many of its pitches. It’s also just a mile or so from the centre of Whitby, slightly longer by the well-made coast path which leads directly from the campsite. Whitby is a charming and picturesque port, with plenty of points of interest. Fans of the Gothic will enjoy Whitby Abbey and the church of St Mary’s, with their connections to Bram Stoker and Dracula.

whitbypark.co.uk

Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, Bridport, Dorset

An excellent base for exploring the Jurassic Coast, Freshwater Beach Holiday Park offers the full range of touring facilities plus some appealing extras. Its grass touring pitches have 16A electric hook-ups and are generously spaced. On site is a games room, pool, three bars, a restaurant, takeaway service and a couple of outdoor swimming pools. Pitch fees here include up to six people, an awning and access to the extensive facilities on the park. And those extras? The site has direct access to a private beach.

freshwaterbeach.co.uk

Black Robin Farm CL, Eastbourne, East Sussex

This members only Caravan Club CL is set on a working sheep farm of 1,000 acres, situated high on the South Downs and just a 20-minute walk from the famous Beachy Head and its red-and-white striped lighthouse. It’s a little further to walk into the traditional seaside resort of Eastbourne but all on footpaths with amazing coastal views. There is a bus stop a few yards from the site with services into Eastbourne or in the other direction to Birling Gap and Seaford. There are great walks along the cliff tops and you can walk all the way along the stunning Seven Sisters chalk cliffs enjoying some of the best views.

caravanclub.co.uk

Whitehill Country Park, Paignton, Devon

The English Riviera – the south Devon coastline around Torquay, Brixham and Paignton – has long promised a slice of Mediterranean lifestyle without leaving the shores of Blighty. Located in a scenic valley just a couple of miles from Paignton, Whitehill has an impressive range of facilities including an excellent open air pool with toddler pool, play areas, a games room, and even a craft workshop. Activities from archery to pony riding and a climbing wall will entertain the more active, while high quality food and drink is available on site.

whitehill-park.co.uk

Nagle’s Doolin Camping & Caravan Park, Co Clare, Ireland

This year, Ireland has inaugurated what it describes as the greatest scenic drive in the world – the Wild Atlantic Way. Stretching around the west coast of the island over a distance of some 1,500 miles. Somewhere in the middle of that route is Nagle’s Doolin, occupying one of the best spots on that extraordinary coastline. With the vast Cliffs of Moher just to the south, the otherworldly limestone landscape of The Burren to the north and east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Aran Islands just to the west, there’s no shortage of wonderful sights to be seen here. There’s a lot to see in walking distance including some excellent traditional pubs and the pier immediately in front of the campsite provides a variety of boat trips to the cliffs and islands.

doolincamping.com

Country View Holiday Park, Sand Bay, Somerset

Country View is one of those campsites that has it all – a great location, lots of facilities and a peaceful touring area away from the main hive of activity. The campsite is around 200 yards from the beach of Sand Bay. It’s a massive stretch of beach where dogs are welcome to enjoy the sand too. Open-top buses taking the scenic route from nearby Weston-super-Mare can be picked up from here if you want to enjoy the coast without having to walk it. There’s a café just opposite the beach, and for good food of an evening, or an afternoon tea, try the Commodore Hotel at the southern end of the bay.

cvhp.co.uk

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